This musical comedy will appeal to all – young and old, male and female. It’s hilariously funny and based on Mary Shelley’s well-known, timeless story. The script and the songs have Mel Brooks stamped all over them.
It’s visually spectacular with dark villages, foreboding castles and mysterious laboratories. The staging is awesome and there are pyrotechnics a plenty. The costumes are sublime – especially the glamourous outfits of Elizabeth whose “Please don’t touch” generated belly laughs from all.
I loved the original movie and the musical is pretty close to the original script. However, a few key scenes were missed – including my favourite “It could be worse, it could be raining” and “Help me with the bags”. Yet the compensation – for us psychology types – was in a fabulous introduction on neuroscience with the great song lyric “I’m insane about the brain”.
Whilst I feared that nothing could compare with the Gene Wilder/Marty Feldman combo – Hadley Fraser and Ross Noble did a pretty good job. I had no idea that Frau Blucher (cue the excellent stage horses) was played by Lesley Joseph who’s comedy talent shone out as well as her singing skill - especially in “He vas my boyfriend”. Ross Noble’s characterisation of Igor was memorable and Nic Greenshields as the monster did an admirable job bearing in mind his limited lines but crucial role.
The songs were fantastic – and the choreography flawless. “Roll in the hay” was pure comedy genius and “Putting on the Ritz” (with tap dancing) was superb. It looked and felt like a Hollywood spectacular. It must be a monster hit.
The cast received a well-deserved standing ovation.
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